Thursday, November 30, 2006

We know what a chicken looks like after seeing them in barnyards and picture books. If you're anything like us then you've eaten enough chicken to sprout your own feathers. We are ashamed to admit it, yes, we have eaten the mutant “ McNugget”...thing (but is it chicken?). Snapping open the box, with little hesitation, we dipped the salty chicken like morsels into the sweet honey mustard sauce then into our gullets. Who knew that under the crispy exterior lurked a bland, goofy face. The child looks nothing like the parent, albeit the chicken is reported to be a stupid creature. So are we what we eat? Mr. President, have you been indulging in “Chicken McNuggets”.... the close set eyes might suggest so. “McNuggets”, we fear are a clear and present danger to the health and security of our nation. View this picture carefully, every “McNugget” served peers at you from behind its greasy, crispy disguise. You must recognise, when your willpower is overtaken by the ugly force unseen, you’ll be enticed to eat the entire box. Just remember, before you succumb to the tasty grease, salt combination, a real chicken has an eye on each side of its heads.Thank you Amanda, for the photo

Sunday, November 12, 2006

We have Karen and Phil to thank for this bookish looking corn guy. “Chester” was sighted at the Shady Dell in Bisbi Arizona, a great vacation spot where you can sleep in a vintage Airstream trailer. It was here that Phil popped the question. Congratulations you guys and thanks for sending us “Chester.”You can see more anthropomorphic food characters at the gallery.

The peanut elves on this cover are the most recent addition to the anthropomorphic gallery. When I first saw the cover illustration for this peanut butter recipe pamphlet, my response was “this is great!”, but after thinking about it for a while the whole thing started to seem a little creepy to me. A wild eyed “junior” munching away on cookies from the snack jar seemingly oblivious to the fact he is being spirited away to some enchanted place by a band of peanut men. Common knowledge that children can be lured by the sweet taste of candies and cookies makes me think the “Snack Jar Plan” is a sinister scheme. The cover forest depiction is eerily reminiscent of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. It is my guess the illustrator was influenced by German culture, perhaps a concept developed directly from the story of Hansel and Gretel. As the date of publication is 1946 by “National Peanut Council, Inc.”, we must say for sure the recent war with Germany was fresh in every ones mind. Because I have read Grimms Fairy tales, I conclude that the boy being escorted into the woods will probably be eaten by the peanut men..... “The Snack Jar Plan”.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

This delicious hot drink of Mexican origin, is made with pecans and masa harina. We drank this in “yes of course” San Francisco, a cold place for a Floridian. If you are looking for a drink to warm your soul on a cold winter night try this. In addition to adding flavor the masa swells to give this drink “body plus.” A note of caution; the drink stays hot for a long time, good for a long relaxing sit, bad for a burnt mouth. We encountered the mysterious flavors of “atole du nuez” while dining at El Dellphin in the Mission District of San Francisco. Our most gracious hostess Angelica was happy to share her recipe with us. This is a slightly altered version of her recipe. Her quantities were for a restaurant size crowd and I substituted a cinnamon stick with powder. Adjust the sugar to suit your taste. There is more information on this drink and its history on David Lebovitz.com.Atole de Nuez

1/2 cup condensed milk

12 cup pecan halves

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup masa harina

1/2 gallon milk

In a blender, process the pecans to a fine powder.

Bring the half gallon of milk and 3 cups of water to a simmer. When it is hot add the condensed milk and other ingredients, adding the masa slowly to avoid clumping. Continue to stir until masa thickens. Simply add a bit more milk if it seems too thick. Sip and get cozy. When cooled cover and store the remaining drink in the refrigerator. Simply reheat in the microwave.

We have an appreciation for well prepared food and for the countless generations of cooks that have tasted, tested and documented their recipes. This has made it possible for usto experience a bit of culinary history, cultures and theinfinite possibility of taste.